The Saudi Red Sea Authority and the kingdom’s ports authority Mawani and Cruise Saudi welcomed the MSC World Europa, the first cruise ship to enter Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port, on its inaugural visit to the Saudi port.
Carrying around 5,000 passengers, the ship’s arrival marks a historic moment for Cruise Saudi, Mawani, the Eastern Province and the country; as it opens Saudi Arabia’s coastline on the Arabian Gulf to cruising for the first time.
Saudi Red Sea Authority facilitated regulatory arrangements’ efforts to ensure the arrival of MSC World Europa, as the regulator that enables the private sector to practice marine and maritime activities in collaboration with Ministry of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Mawani, Saudi Tourism Authority and Saudi Cruise to resolve all challenges to attract investment and highlight the kingdom’s rich coastal tourism.
Throughout Cruise Saudi’s current cruising season, the ship will make weekly calls at King Abdulaziz Port on its seven-day cruise round trip, which itineraries also include the ports of Doha – where it homeported during November and December last year hosting football fans – Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said the Saudi Red Sea Authority in its statement.
These visits are in line with Cruise Saudi’s efforts of developing world-class port’s infrastructure to welcome global cruise ships and passengers to explore the country’s diverse offering – by working in conjunction with Mawani.
The occasion was celebrated with the traditional Plaque & Key Exchange Ceremony on board MSC World Europa, attended by representatives of Cruise Saudi, Mawani, and the key authorities whose efforts and cooperation led to this milestone, including, Saudi Red Sea Authority, and Zakat, Tax & Customs Authority, as well as the ship officials, including Captain of the vessel Marco Massa.
Cruise Saudi has previously welcomed four MSC cruise ships – including MSC Splendida, MSC Orchestra, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Bellissima – to Jeddah Islamic Port and Yanbu Commercial Port to sail the Red Sea.
Not only does the arrival of MSC World Europa mark the first time a cruise ship arriving at Saudi Arabia’s coastline on the Arabian Gulf, but the uniqueness of the occasion in that it is the first time passengers disembark at Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port, stated the Saudi Red Sea Authority in its statement.
Till this moment, the port was exclusively the country’s key commercial port, through which cargo from all over the world reached Saudi Arabia’s Eastern and Central provinces, it added.
Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen said: “As we welcome the first cruise ship and first group of passengers to King Abdulaziz Port, we open a new and important gateway connecting Saudi Arabia to the rest of the world – via the Arabian Gulf. Cruise Saudi was established to develop and create the cruise industry in the country and welcome tourists to explore the unique and rich Saudi history, heritage, culture and offering.”
“And this moment marks another step toward our goal of establishing Saudi Arabia as a premier regional and global cruising destination. By leveraging the temperate climate, high-quality infrastructure and easy access to both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, we provide global cruise lines the opportunity to operate year-round cruising – which is not possible in many other major cruise destinations – and position the region as a promising player in the global industry,” he noted.
MSC World Europa is MSC Cruises’ first liquid natural gas (LNG)-propelled cruise ship and has a capacity of 6,700+ passengers and 2,000+ crew members.
Its state-of-the-art design includes the latest water recycling technology to purify wastewater, a 341-feet long promenade offering panoramic ocean views, 13 dining venues, seven swimming pools, a waterpark, and 19 different stateroom categories to cater to guest preferences.
The city of Dammam is an exceptional tourist destination, due to its rich cultural heritage and historical wonders. It is distinguished by its coastal location on the calm Arabian Gulf, and its waterfronts and sandy beaches.
Cruise Saudi offers cruise passengers a range of shore excursions in the Eastern Province. These include visits to AlAhsa Oasis – one of the country’s six Unesco World Heritage Sites – King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), Heritage Village, Love Market, Ibrahim Castle, Princess School, Qara Mountain, Souqs including AlQaisariyah and Al-Hob (The Love Market), as well as activities such as desert tours, biking and walks by the AlKhobar Corniche.
Saudi Red Sea Authority Acting CEO Mohammed Asiri said: “It is our absolute pleasure to participate and cooperate with our partners in the marine tourism sector to make history in Saudi Arabia.
“While working on developing regulatory arrangements for the navigational and coastal activities of the Red Sea, the opportunity came to have MSC cruise ship hotels for football fans from which best practices can be derived, and measuring the experience of tourists to apply this to the Red Sea during the upcoming seasons, where the organizational and procedural challenges were analyzed early and started to be addressed with our colleagues in Ministry of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Cruise Saudi and Saudi Ports Authority,” he stated.
“We will continue to leverage this momentum to develop the regulatory arrangements in the maritime tourism and leisure sector and to attract more leisure cruises to ensure an enjoyable coastal tourism experience, on global standards, thus raising Saudi’s classification and its position in the global marine leisure tourism,” noted Asiri.
Cruise Saudi’s ongoing third cruising season runs until May 2023 and is set to welcome 75+ scheduled calls from ships from five global cruise lines Sailing the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.
